DENVER — Some have waited months or years for the chance of getting a driver’s license through a controversial program that allows undocumented residents of Colorado to obtain state licenses and identification cards.

“At the end of the day we want to see this be an accessible, effective process to ensure that anyone who has taken the time to learn the rules of the road and pays their dues is able to get insured and licensed and becomes a safe part of our highway system,” said Rep. Jonathan Singer, D-Longmont.

Singer plans to introduce a bill this week that would allow more offices across the state to process the licenses. The program was passed by Democrats in 2013, and it became law in 2014.

“This bill is about people who are working hard and want to be taken out of the shadows,” Singer said. “And for someone like me, now, who is a third-, or fourth-generation citizen, it’s about knowing that when I get on the road everyone else knows the same rules and I’m going to be safe.”

The size of the program was limited in 2015 by Republican lawmakers opposed to the idea of providing a legal document to those who have entered or stayed in the country illegally. Republicans took control of the Senate in the November 2014 elections and were able to block funding for the program on the Joint Budget Committee, which is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.

“I do not support the program at all. I think it sends the wrong message to people who are not only here illegally today, but people who are considering coming to Colorado without the legal permission to do that,” said Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud. “It’s giving a tacit approval to their illegal presence in the state and every time we’ve tried some sort of an amnesty deal, and this is in that general category, it has not fixed the problem it has made it worse.”

Lundberg called the agreement in 2015 that the program would only be offered at three Division of Motor Vehicles locations across the state a “political compromise.”

“When they started the program there were a lot more offices that were authorized, and it was creating havoc for all Colorado citizens attempting to get their driver’s licenses,” Lundberg said. “Did that create a bottleneck? Yes, it did.”

Singer said Republicans used Washington, D.C.-style politics by blocking funding to a program that they disagreed with rather than trying to eliminate the program.

“It was a compromise but it was an unfortunate compromise, not a grand compromise,” Singer said, noting that he and Lundberg live about 15 miles apart and have worked together on several other bills.

Celesté Martinez is at the forefront of the movement to increase the accessibility of the SB 251 program.

“There are some individuals who were part of the original campaign for this law, who are still waiting to get an appointment after two years,” said Martinez, a community organizer with Together Colorado and member of the Drive Colorado Campaign.

She said appointments open up three times a day for 90 days in advance, and some people have been unable to book appointments despite persistent calling and checking online. The appointments are for the applicant to provide proof of identification, pass a written driver’s test, be issued a permit and pass a physical driver’s test, Martinez said.

Singer said the program is self-funded by the higher permit and license fees being charged to those seeking the special licenses.

Lundberg said the program is impacting those who are here legally by jamming up the wait and DMV offices.

Singer’s bill has a tough road ahead. If it gains approval from the Democrats in the House, it must clear the Senate where Republicans have a majority and opposed the measure in 2013.

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(c)2016 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

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62 Comments

roy32February 9, 2016 at 9:30 am

That’s great. Rep. Jonathan Singer wants to make sure driving laws are enforced but is quite happy the country is flooded with immigration violations. He’s happy to ensure that America is not America anymore.

They are just making sure that tens of thousands of illegals will be able to vote for Hillary in November!

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sirvandovFebruary 9, 2016 at 6:38 pm

Rep.Jonathon Singer’s proposals only adds more fire-wood to the Out -of -Control fire of illegall immigration. Clearly, Another treasonous idea to get illegall Votes for that Nasty/Criminal Lieing HilldaBeast, come November to finish-off our countries Constitutional Liberty’s and Freedoms. Just as Bad or most likely Worst than that Muslim/Socialist/Marxist/Communist/illegall Homo in WH. Worthless to our Country, and we know not even Kenya wants this Sorry A$$ back.

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baitfishFebruary 10, 2016 at 6:57 am

The state of Colorado has left the planet. When you give them their drivers license, hand them a free bag of marijuana and wish them a happy visit to America.

Exactly. IMO its flat out Illegal for a state to even be allowed to Issue Drivers licenses to illegal aliens anyway. And any state that DOES issue them, needs to have every other state start saying “We will no longer accept your state’s licenses as valid forms of ID” till they stop the practice AND recall all of those illegally (IMO) issued licenses…

I know if i owned a business, i would NEVER accept a drivers license from Colorado or CA cause of just this reason.

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dismayedinusaFebruary 11, 2016 at 7:17 am

foxmulder February 9, 2016 at 3:51 pm

They are just making sure that tens of thousands of illegals will be able to vote for Hillary in November
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Absolutely…And AND @ the same time intentionally driving down the cost of doing business in this country from top to bottom. What I find sad and @ the same time it angers me…is even individuals as well as small businesses have no conscience when it comes to hiring / using Mexican labor!!! I have my own residential remodeling business and while I have known and seen others use this cheap labor to increase their bottom line, I’ve never allowed myself to cave to the mentality that MY bottom line is more important than the health of our economy as a whole. These people and companies don’t care that WEALL end up paying MORE for everything by allowing this thought process to pervade our society. YES..they’re “working ” and perhaps paying in some taxes in some cases, but let us not fool ourselves that in the end….They’re costing this country BIG TIME

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ltuserFebruary 11, 2016 at 2:26 pm

I am trying to remember which show it was i watched back in late 2011, but they did an expose on contractors and places like Lowes, homo depot and such, and found out that ‘supposedly 40%’ of general contractors use ‘day labor’ where they knowingly hire illegal immigrants that ‘camp out’ in front of those stores, simply cause they are cheap….

IMO all those who do so, should be arrested for violating the laws, and lose their contracting license.

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mirageFebruary 9, 2016 at 9:50 am

I suspect that what this is all about is get them drivers licenses and then they can register to vote (for democrats). It’s the drip drip drip of voter fraud that the democrats use to stay in power. All of this came from cloward and Pivin, driving Chicago style corrupt electioneering. Any time I hear that community organizing is involved I know that cheating and bullying is involved.

It might be used to work the other way.
It gets them to stick their head up.

Give them licenses coded with the black band, get their names, addresses, etc.
Then, when it’s time for the round up, the DMV computer tells you where to look.

It’s like gun registration, but not about guns.

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dismayedinusaFebruary 9, 2016 at 10:31 am

Mirage, You are SPOT ON with your assessment of what Singer is trying to pull here. It’s unfortunate that Colorado residents continue to elect Liberal Democratic representatives to represent them. Chicago style politics in the far West…..SAD!!
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vietnamvet February 9, 2016 at 10:18 am

It might be used to work the other way.
It gets them to stick their head up.

Give them licenses coded with the black band, get their names, addresses, etc.
Then, when it’s time for the round up, the DMV computer tells you where to look.

It’s like gun registration, but not about guns.
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If only they had the testicular fortitude to actually use this AWESOME IDEA!!!!!

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chuckybFebruary 9, 2016 at 12:12 pm

vietnamvet Sounds like a good idea but the libs have probably already thought of a way to get around it. Can’t let their future welfare votes get deported.

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ltuserFebruary 9, 2016 at 6:01 pm

Very true. We can hope that is what it would be used for, as a way to know who/where all the illegals are for deportation, but iirc in CA, when they implemented their practice to give illegals drivers licenses, they were promised that it would NOT be used for that purpose…

And iirc also, Ca is already looking into whether they can get around the “illegals can’t vote” rule, by signing you up to vote when you GET your drivers license… Which is yet another reason i see this whole crub as being illegal and unconstitutional..

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vietnamvetFebruary 9, 2016 at 6:43 pm

Yeah, well …
They alsways say that if we will go for registration of our goods “for the children” they promise not to use the data for confiscation.

I guess it boils down to who is promising what, and when do they change their minds.

I would like to see black striped Colorado drivers licenses be used to ’round up’ illegals when the next intelligent govenor comes in.

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lynncar47February 9, 2016 at 7:39 pm

To Mikial,

You are right on about John Denver and the rest of the “Peaceniks” of that era. Colorado who used to be a state of rugged individualists is now a replica of California where the timid groupies smoke their pot and chill out. What a bunch of losers! I’d be ashamed to be from that state, and if I were, I’d move to South Dakota or Texas where men are men and women are women and never the two shall be confused.

Heck, i wonder if the written portion of their drivers tests were even done in English, or were they done in Farsi, Spanish etc..
And one of the biggest things i always see as being over looked on this, is how will this ‘make the roads safer’, when 90% of illegals don’t even speak/read English which all our street signs are wrote in.. Combined with the fact that how do we know they have proper insurance?

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oldsargeFebruary 9, 2016 at 10:19 am

All the other states should not recognize any drivers license from Colorado or California unless the driver can show proof of US Citizenship or legal status. We all know that will not happen for fear of being branded as Racist.

I sent a letter to Mr Kasich, Senator Brown and Senator Portman saying exactly the same thing. BUT not one of those 3 have ever gotten back to me.

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hdmaniaFebruary 9, 2016 at 10:27 am

Its all a scam to give illegals a license..besides they wont buy insurance as the law requires..they do a lot of hit and runs..they have nothing so you cant sue them for damages..its for Demorats votes only..

Welcome to Cali-rado. Check your wallet at the door please. They should have included program “before start/after start” stats on uninsured motorists accidents and hit and runs in this article. Illegals dont care if they have a license, they will drive regardless. Break one law…break em all.
Hickenritter only cares about votes. He is such a toolbag.
This state is turning into a dumping ground….with plenty of bad drivers, weed(another stupid move) and the Lombardi trophy.

That’s great,the Democraps have now given illegals more validity to their argument of being able to remain here.They are illegal,they broke our laws coming here,they break our laws daily,they take our jobs,they steal our ID’s yet the Dem.cater to their future Dem. voters!!The Democraps are quick to pass laws giving illegals more rights, yet they refuse to seal our borders and deport these illegals, while ignoring our laws on immigration.

I seriously doubt the legalization of weed had ANYTHING to do with this….if that were the case then alcohol should also be OUTLAWED as it will always be a Scourge on society….far worse than anything you can come up with regarding Marijuana…Anything!!! These people are simply ” drunk on election corruption “

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ltuserFebruary 10, 2016 at 12:32 am

I disagree, Alcohol is as much (or IYO more of) a scourge on society as MJ is..

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dismayedinusaFebruary 10, 2016 at 8:14 am

ltuser February 10, 2016 at 12:32 am

I disagree, Alcohol is as much (or IYO more of) a scourge on society as MJ is..

Ituser, disagree all you like…then go look @ statistics for crimes such as domestic abuse….robbery…..murder…..innocents killed EVERY YEAR by drunk drivers….lost revenue and productivity by business from people who don’t show for work or aren’t worth a chit if they do come in. The only thing having Marijuana remain as a capitol offense does is COST WE the Tax payers in serious dollars for policing and jail and prison costs….not to mention rip otherwise law abiding citizens families apart! @ the very least it should be removed from Federal drug offense list and left to The States to deal with it as they see fit.

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ltuserFebruary 11, 2016 at 1:55 am

While that is true, i have not heard of someone breaking in and stealing stuff, to get cash for their “beer fix” unlike i have with their drug fix.. Combined with the # of deaths each year cause of the drug trade… That’s why i feel alcohol is not as big a threat as drugs are.

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Oldsailor65February 9, 2016 at 10:50 am

I don’t agree with this program but if one of them is stopped and they do not have the required insurance then deport them and their family immediately with no questions axed.

While that is true, i have not heard of someone breaking in and stealing stuff, to get cash for their “beer fix” unlike i have with their drug fix.. Combined with the # of deaths each year cause of the drug trade… That’s why i feel alcohol is not as big a threat as drugs are.
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Ituser, That is the MOST uninformed and out of touch reply I’ve heard in a while. If we were discussing crack /heroin / methamphetamine etc. ( hardcore ..highly addictive drugs ) I’d have no argument with you, but what your trying to claim is flat out BS of the highest caliber and similar to the SOS the FEDS have been pedaling for decades. It’sway past due that ” the weed ” is taken off the Schedule 1 Federal drug chart where it is ranked with the afforementioned drugs that do indeed tear people and families and yes society apart. LEO’s time would be much better spent policing those ” hardcore ” drugs IMHO…and if folks were allowed to grow abit of their own for personal use without fear of prosecution….then perhaps the Cartels would have no reason to continue to try to get the stuff through our S. Border

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ltuserFebruary 11, 2016 at 2:29 pm

Dismayed.. Of the 3 times i have been witness to cars broken into for drug money, 2 were by people getting money for weed. Only 1 was for crack and meth.
Luckily i have yet to fall victim to it. BUT i unfortunately know several people who have been victim. One of my female gaming pals, got robbed at knife point several years back by a guy high ON marijuana, so he could get money for more MJ. So my seeing it the way i do is NOT based on Bull…

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onnasinkinshipFebruary 9, 2016 at 10:54 am

The short-sightedness of liberals never ceases to amaze me. You need to fight their idiotic ideas relentlessly, or give up your freedom inch by inch.

Dismayed.. Of the 3 times i have been witness to cars broken into for drug money, 2 were by people getting money for weed. Only 1 was for crack and meth.
Luckily i have yet to fall victim to it. BUT i unfortunately know several people who have been victim. One of my female gaming pals, got robbed at knife point several years back by a guy high ON marijuana, so he could get money for more MJ. So my seeing it the way i do is NOT based on Bull…

So now you move from ” You heard ” of incidents to ” I’ve witnessed “….you clearly have an agenda here although I don’t know what it is. And as I stated initially and stand by it, your ” car break ins ” DO NOTeven begin to compare to the tragedies brought about by the ills of people with alcohol addictions and general abuse.

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ltuserFebruary 13, 2016 at 4:55 pm

Dismayed if you look at the first comment i made, it was “I have not heard of someone breaking into a car to get money for their Beer fix”..
The 2nd was my witnessing cars getting tossed though for drug money. They are not the same .

Just like a few months back someone mentioned they thought they saw a contradiction over on the mil times forums, when i mentioned i luckly have not witnessed or had a family member be victim of rape, but i have had someone close to me who got sexually assaulted (groped at a concert).. There is no contradiction there…

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captjellicoFebruary 9, 2016 at 11:06 am

Bill “El Gordo Corupto” Richardson set this up in New Mexico when he was the governor–it’s been an unmitigated disaster and hasn’t helped in any of the ways they said it would. What it has done is make it so that NM Driver’s Licenses are not an acceptable form of ID for the purposes of gaining access to federal facilities or even boarding a commercial flight! Our new governor, Suzanna Martinez (R), has been trying to get rid of this foul policy since she took office, but obstructionist Democrats who infest the state legislature have blocked all of her efforts. Meanwhile, all of our extensions have run out and now they are trying to go with this patchwork option of making different licenses for illegals.

why is it that the DEMs can NOT get it thru their empty skulls that it is against federal law for the state to issue identification documents to those in this nation illegally. NONE of these documents are legal as those to whom they are issued have never proven their TRUE identity and upon discovery by the state the state is required BY LAW to arrest these people and deport them. Clearly then the so called laws of the state of Colorado no longer apply to anyone in this state.
If an illegal commits a crime in the state of Colorado they just ignore the law and never show up for the court date but instead just get ID under another name.
As for me If one of these criminals involves me in an accident I WILL sue the State of Colorado for several millions $
as is my right under the law due to the fact that the state has placed the legal citizens at risk of life and limb through their illegal actions.

Cause most of those who wanted to escape the insanity that CA is becoming, fled to Colorado and are corrupting that state into a mirror image of where they left..

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patron71February 9, 2016 at 1:51 pm

People, WAKE UP! Most of the Clowns in charge of the states will do anything to make certain the democrats get to vote. It has taken Obamass only 6 years to bring back racism and destroy what was becoming a good country. All we have mow are Politicians who don’t care about anything except what they want to get more $$$ in their pockets. If real citizens don’t wake up and vote for people who care, then the USA will die!!

Most states require two forms of ID to vote. A driver’s license and a rent payment receipt or paycheck stub will do. To the question about illegal aliens having the ability to vote . . . that’s what this driver’s license issue is all about! Of course the Democrats want the illegals to vote. That’s millions of votes to their benefit. They provide the illegals many government goodies such as WIC stamps, food stamps, rent subsidies, and now a driver’s license. They even get preferential in-state tuition rates at Universities in many states. The anchor baby system is the most pernicious of all of the Democrat schemes to ensure future votes. It’s no longer about what’s good for America, it’s about what’s good for the Democrat Party.

Just as a point of reference, in 2012 Obama lost EVERY state that required voter ID.

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millerstwoFebruary 9, 2016 at 2:39 pm

Definition of ‘illegal’ per the Merriam Webster Dictionary……
“contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law.”
What is so terribly difficult to understand, am I missing something?
When Obama and his Congressional buddy’s allow Illegal Aliens ‘ANY RIGHTS’ at all (including drivers licenses), are they breaking the law?
What ever became of the “Traitor-in-Chiefs” reckless “Fast and Furious” fiasco, I wonder, was that legal?
Seems as if the Muslim Obama and his Marxist minions enforce only the laws conducive to their agendas while not enforcing the laws which might be detrimental to their anti-America causes, hmmm, is this legal?
Has there ever been a President who has blatantly broken more laws, told more lies or committed more questionable treasonous acts than the “Muslim-in-Chief”? Check out why Nixon was impeached…what a hypocritical joke!!!
Yet there he sits…and worse the Congress and the Supreme Court are either helpless to stop him or “in league with the devil” themselves!!!
You’ve got to ask yourself, why are they so hell bent on getting our guns?

They want our guns, cause its easier to subjugate an unarmed population, than it is an Armed one..

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lynncar47February 9, 2016 at 7:55 pm

I am of the opinion that there is no longer a Democrat Party. There are no more Democrats of the likes of Truman and JFK. The political parties used to be known as the “loyal opposition” and are known as the “enemy.” This is because the so-called Democrat Party has morphed into what is known as the “Socialist Progressive” Party. In layman’s language, the Communist Party. And the Hilldabeast brags about how Progressive she is!! I wonder if she really is intelligent enough to know that she is calling herself a Communist?

As long as the “Democrat” Party views everyone as their enemy, there can be no America as was known prior to Clintons and Obamas. Colorado is just a manifestation of the liberal Cloward and Pivin and Saul Alinski theories of how to turn America into a Communist country. I hope they are proud of themselves.

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gimmesometruthFebruary 9, 2016 at 2:55 pm

This is all part of the ‘La Raza’ long-range strategy to undermine domestic, sovereign state statutes and replace them with North American Union regional regulations.

Just how does an illegal show proof of identity that is credible? Do you think THAT may be a source of the stumbling block causing delay’s? So let’s get this straight…Colorado gets to charge an “extra special” rate for issuing these types of license, pocket the money, then the next elected official get to deal with the ramifications? Sweet…sounds like they have really figured this one out! How about my wait…as an American born and raised, served in the Armed Forces, yet still waiting more than 6 months for my background check to clear for my gun purchase? Everybody has their own political agenda, that’s for sure!

As a vet you’ve been waiting six months to get your firearms clearance? This is a travesty of our Constitution. If I were you, I’d go to the street and buy one if only for your own protection. If and whenever your clearance is approved, you can turn it into the police telling them you found it on the side of the street or whatever. Never give in to a government that is not founded on our Constitution. We are way, way overdue for a change and if the so-called “legal” method of voting proves to be fixed against the people, we HAVE to replace the invalid officers who have been installed through fraud and deceit. It’s our duty as American citizens.

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mikialFebruary 9, 2016 at 3:32 pm

Colorado was once known as a state built and populated by “rugged individualists” and independent minded mountain man and rancher stock. But now, since the influx of Liberals when Aspen and John Denver made the state a Liberal playground, it might as well be renamed Little California.

It’s a sad thing to see, in my opinion, but we see it happening an all too many places. Yes, there are still a lot of good people out in the Colorado countryside, but the big city Liberals determine too much of what happens in the state. Here in Virginia the state legislature is overwhelmingly Conservative because most of the districts in the state are. But we end up with Liberal governors and US Senators because all the Liberals and welfare recipients in the big counties adjacent to DC and Maryland overpower everyone elses votes for statewide and Federal offices. At least we still have mostly Conservative US Congressmen.

As Obama promised in 2005 ” We are 5 days away from fundamentaly transforming the United States of America”
Obama has been a one man wrecking crew using his pen and his phone to impose his will on “we the people”.
IMPEACH THIS TRAITOR NOW!

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xlncskipFebruary 9, 2016 at 4:32 pm

Our Representative’s have forgotten who they represent. I wonder how much of the forgetfulness is directly attributable to lobbying. American’s don’t seem to have any more say-so in how our tax dollars are spent and the exemptions regarding lawful behavior are disgusting.